The big news of the day is the Knicks acquiring Raymond Felton from Portland, which could very well spell the end of Linsanity in New York. Chris Sheridan covered all the news surrounding the Felton acquisition and what it means for Lin on SheridanHoops earlier, and Moke Hamilton went in-depth with the financial and luxury-tax implications as well.
After you’re done checking out all the Linsanity: July Edition, here’s the latest news from everywhere else in the NBA:
- Things are getting downright baffling in the Dwight Howard race. Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal tweeted the following last night: “Nothing to these trade rumors involving Cavs, Lakers and Magic, league source confirms. No merit to them at all.” Marc Stein of ESPN.com also tweeted “Rockets, even if they unexpectedly land Lin AND Omer Asik, still think they’ve got Dwight trade offers (yes, plural) to please ORL.” Despite that confidence, the Rockets will almost certainly need to wait three days before knowing if they’ll get Lin, and then another three for Asik, which could be too long of a wait to get Howard. With the Dwightmare, you never know when something might be imminent.
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The NBA’s 30 teams have been notified that Phoenix has won waiver auction for Luis Scola
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 15, 2012
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To add Luis Scola, the Suns made Josh Childress an amnesty cut, source said.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 15, 2012
- The Blazers have received the Timberwolves’ offer sheet for Nicolas Batum, reports Jason Quick of the Oregonian via Twitter. Quick notes that “from the start, (Blazers GM Neil) Olshey has said he will (match)”. Terms are still unknown, says Quick, but they’ve been widely rumored to be four years, $46.5 million.
- Kyrie Irving is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a broken bone in his hand, reports Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal. “Irving was upset with himself after turning the ball over during Saturday’s morning practice and smacked a padded wall inside the high school gymnasium where the Cavs were practicing,” Lloyd writes. “‘That was just something stupid on his part,’ Scott said. ‘I said, “What did you do?” The first thing he said was, “Something stupid.” So he knew right away it was something he shouldn’t have done. He was upset with himself and he took it out on the wall. The wall won, obviously.’” Irving got our Tweet of the Night.
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Suns linked w/Mayo & Courntey Lee after Gordon offer sheet matched but I’m told they’re also still pursuing Shannon Brown to stay in PHX
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 15, 2012
- Quick note on Ray Allen from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald: “Two sources with direct knowledge tell us that Allen’s two-year deal with the Heat includes a $3.2 million player option for 2013-14. So if Allen wants to become a free agent again next July, he can.”
- Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld reports that the Warriors are interested in free agent PF Carl Landry. “Jarrett Jack, who played with Landry in New Orleans, started campaigning for the Warriors to sign the power forward shortly after he was acquired earlier this week. Landry appreciated Jack’s comments and didn’t rule out the possibility of teaming up with him in Golden State,” Kennedy writes.
- Joe Johnson answers some questions from Steve Serby of the New York Post. A couple highlights: “Q: Why did you say the Nets are better than the Knicks? A: The Brooklyn Nets have to have swag, and it starts with confidence. You can’t go out hoping and wishing, but you have to know and feel that way before you take the court. I think we should all feel that we’re a pretty good damn team. Q: How long will it take for you to help bring a championship to Brooklyn? A: Honestly, not long. I think we got some great pieces to put us in position to win a title, honestly. … This could be probably the best team I’ve ever played on.”
- Here’s a piece from Ed Odeven of the Japan Times on Justin Burrell, a former St. John’s player who is trying to make it in the NBA after playing last season in Japan.
- Last night, Jason Kidd was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor DWI. Go here to read the police report and check out some pictures relating to the incident.
- A petition to the New York Knicks to match the offer sheet from the Houston Rockets.